Many of the top girls’ basketball programs in the state of Missouri will be competing in the Webster Winter Challenge, which begins next Tuesday night at Webster Groves. This is indeed one of the best tournaments around. How loaded is this year’s field?
Incarnate Word Academy has won the last three Missouri Class 4 state titles.
Columbia Rock Bridge has won the last four Class 5 state titles.
MICDS was the Class 4 state runners-up last season.
Cor Jesu Academy finished fourth in the Class 5 state tournament last season.
Kirkwood advanced to the Class 5 state quarterfinals last season.
Washington advanced to the Class 5 state quarterfinals last season.
Host Webster Groves has 10 wins and won the Marquette Tournament this season.
St. Joseph’s Academy is a perennial state contender in the state of Missouri.
The action begins on Tuesday, Feb. 2 with first-round games between Washington and Webster Groves at 6 p.m. and Rock Bridge and Incarnate Word at 7:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, first round games continue with Cor Jesu vs. Kirkwood at 6 p.m. and MICDS vs. St. Joseph’s at 7:30 p.m.
The semifinals will be held on Friday, Feb. 5 at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Championship day will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6. The seventh-place game will be held at noon, fifth-place game at 1:30 p.m., third-place game at 3 p.m. and the championship game at 4:30 p.m.
Some of the top players to watch next week include: Jordan Roundtree of Kirkwood (signed with Missouri), Abbey Hoff of Incarnate Word (signed with Miami of Ohio), Rachel Thompson of MICDS (signed with Colgate), Taylor Baur of MICDS (Princeton), Kyra Hardesty of Washington, Kristina Schmelter of Cor Jesu, Jaidah Stewart of Webster Groves and many, many more. A couple of top players who are on the mend from injuries are Kirkwood High standout Lauryn Miller and sophomore K.K. Rodriguez of Webster Groves.
Jennings is on a roll
Winning is nothing new at Jennings High, but the Warriors are quietly putting together an outstanding season is 2016. The Warriors are currently 15-2 after recently winning the championship of the Denver Miller Tournament at Kirkwood. Jennings is led by 6’2” senior point guard Darius Rice, who is averaging 17.4 points, 5.4 assists and 3.8 steals a game. Senior guard Bobby Sanders averages 11.8 points while being one of the area’s top defensive players. Junior forward Rajae Johnson is averaging 10.8 points and team-high 8.3 rebounds a game. Senior forward Tahj Welch is averaging 9.5 points while senior forward Richard Keeper averages 7.6 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Carte’are Gordon on the move
Standout sophomore forward Carte’are Gordon has left Vianney High and has transferred to Webster Groves, his home district school. The 6’8” Gordon is one of the nation’s top players in the Class of 2018. He has already received numerous Division I scholarship offers from schools such as Kansas, Missouri, Saint Louis, Cincinnati, UNLV and many others. In 16 games at Vianney, Gordon averaged 19.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.6 blocks a game. As a freshman, he led the Golden Griffins to a district championship and a berth in the Class 5 sectional playoffs.
Jason Draggs impacts “The View”
Senior Jason Draggs recently became eligible to play at Riverview Gardens and the 6’9” forward is making an immediate impact. The Rams have won all four games since Draggs entered the lineup. He is averaging 15 points a game while giving the Rams rebounding and shot-blocking in the post. Draggs last played in 2014 as a sophomore at St. Charles, but sat out last season at Madison Prep and North Tech before finding a home at Riverview. He is one of the most talented forwards in the area.
Big Friday night games
There are a couple of big showdowns on tap for Friday night on both sides of the river. On the Missouri side, SLUH will visit Webster Groves in a big showdown between two of the area’s top teams. It is a rematch of last year’s district championship game, which was won the Junior Billikens at the buzzer. Both teams are young and very talented. It should be a good one at Roberts Gym.
On the Illinois side, Carbondale will visit Belleville Althoff is a big South Seven Conference Showdown. Althoff is coming off the championship of the Belleville Challenge last weekend. The Crusaders are one of the top teams in the state of Illinois. Carbondale is one of the top teams in Southern Illinois.
